Method and apparatus for policy-based packet classification using hashing algorithm

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer implemented instructions for processing a request in a data processing system. The request is received. In response to a first hash value being present within the request, the first hash value is compared to a second hash value that was computed locally, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for assigning a quality of service. In response to a match between the first hash value and the second hash value, other information in the request is used to establish a quality of service for packets associated with the request.

1. A method in a data processing system for processing a request, the method comprising:
 receiving the request; 
 responsive to a first hash value being present within the request, comparing the first hash value to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for a quality of service; 
 responsive to a match between the first hash value and the second hash value, setting a quality of service based on information associated with the first hash value; 
 responsive to an absence of a hash value in the request, identifying a policy rule for processing the request to form an identified policy rule; 
 identifying a classification for the request using the identified policy rule; hashing the current policy configuration, of which the identified policy rule is a part, using a hashing algorithm to generate a current hash value; and 
 placing the current hash value and the information into the request. 
 
   
   
     2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the hash value and the information are placed into a cookie. 
   
   
     3. A method in a data processing system for processing a request, the method comprising:
 responsive to receiving a request containing a selected cookie in which the selected cookie includes a first hash value and information associated with the hash value, determining whether the first hash value corresponds to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for processing reguests by the data processing system; 
 responsive to a correspondence between the first hash value and the second hash value, processing the request using the information; 
 responsive to receiving a request containing the selected cookie, determining whether the selected cookie is stale; 
 responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is not stale, generating a new classification; and 
 responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is stale, preventing initiation of the step of determining whether the first hash value corresponds to a second hash value. 
 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3  further comprising:
 responsive to an absence of the selected cookie, processing the request with the current policy. 
 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the selected cookie includes a universal resource identifier, a user identification, and a user group identification. 
   
   
     6. A data processing system for processing a request, the data processing system comprising:
 receiving means for receiving the request; 
 comparing means, responsive to a first hash value being present within the request, for comparing the first hash value to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for a quality of service; and 
 setting means, responsive to a match between the first hash value and the second hash value, for setting a quality of service based on information associated with the first hash value; 
 first identifying means, responsive to an absence of a hash value in the request, for identifying a policy rule for processing the request to form an identified policy rule; 
 second identifying means for identifying a classification for the request using the identified policy rule; 
 hashing means for hashing the current policy configuration, of which the identified policy rule is a part, using a hashing algorithm to generate a current hash value; and 
 placing means for placing the current hash value and the information into the request. 
 
   
   
     7. The data processing system of  claim 6 , wherein the hash value and the information are placed into a cookie. 
   
   
     8. A data processing system for processing a request, the data processing system comprising:
 first determining means, responsive to receiving a request containing a selected cookie in which the selected cookie includes a first hash value and information associated with the hash value, for determining whether the first hash value corresponds to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for processing reguests by the data processing system; 
 processing means, responsive to a correspondence between the first hash value and the second hash value, for processing the request using the information; 
 second determining means, responsive to receiving a request containing the selected cookie, for determining whether the selected cookie is stale; 
 generating means, responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is not stale, for generating a new classification for the request; and 
 preventing means, responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is stale, for preventing initiation of the first determining means. 
 
   
   
     9. The data processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the processing means is a first processing means and hater comprising:
 second processing means, responsive to an absence of the selected cookie, for processing the request with the current policy configuration to generate a first classification for the request; 
 applying means for applying a hashing algorithm to the current policy configuration to generate the first hash value; and 
 placing means for placing the first hash value and information associated with the first hash value within a new cookie. 
 
   
   
     10. The data processing system of  claim 8 , wherein the selected cookie includes a universal resource identifier, a user identification, and a group identification. 
   
   
     11. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for processing a request, the computer program product comprising:
 first instructions for receiving the request;
 second instructions, responsive to a first hash value being present within the request, for comparing the first hash value to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for a quality of service; 
 third instructions, responsive to a match between the first hash value and the second hash value, for setting a quality of service based on information associated with the first hash value, 
 fourth instructions, responsive to an absence of a hash value in the request, for identifying a policy rule for processing the request to form an identified policy rule; 
 fifth instructions for identifying a classification for the request using the identified policy rule; 
 sixth instructions for hashing the current policy configuration, of which the identified policy rule is a part, using a hashing algorithm to generate a current hash value; and 
 seventh instructions for placing the current hash value and the information into the request. 
 
 
   
   
     12. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for processing a request, the computer program product comprising:
 first instructions, responsive to receiving a request containing a selected cookie in which the selected cookie includes a first hash value and information associated with the hash value, for determining whether the first hash value corresponds to a second hash value, wherein the second hash value represents a current policy configuration for processing reguests by the data processing system; 
 second instructions, responsive to a correspondence between the first hash value and the second hash value, for processing the request using the information; 
 third instructions, responsive to receiving a request containing the selected cookie, for determining whether the selected cookie is stale; 
 fourth instructions, responsive to a determination that the cookie is not stale, for generating a new classification for the request; and 
 fifth instructions, responsive to a determination that the selected cookie is stale, for preventing initiation of the first determining step. 
 
   
   
     13. The computer program product of  claim 11 , wherein the hash value and the information arc placed in a cookie. 
   
   
     14. The computer program product of  claim 12  further comprising:
 sixth instructions, responsive to en absence of the selected cookie, for processing the request with the current policy configuration to generate a first classiacation for the request; 
 seventh instructions for applying a bashing algorithm to the current policy configuration to generate the first hash value; and 
 eighth instructions for placing the first hash value and information associated with the first hash value within a new cookie. 
 
   
   
     15. The computer program product of  claim 12 , wherein the selected cookie includes a universal resource identifier, a user identification, and a group identification. configuration to generate a first classification for the request;
 applying a hashing algorithm to the current policy configuration to generate the first hash value; and 
 placing the first bash value and information associated with the first hash value within a new cookie.